Hi. I am new here. I just registered. I am looking for some advice. I have IBS and a stomach condition where my stomach does not operate normally. It works very slow digesting. I have very SEVERE bloating to the point of looking extremely pregnant. Which, pulls on my lower back and I am in a lot of pain. I can't stand this anymore. I have had a colonoscopy, endoscopy(there it was diagnosed of the stomach problem) and many tests done but nothing was done to stop this bloating. I have tried gas products but nothing works. I can't work because of all of this which has put me in the poor house. This has been going on for 3 years now. I am seriously considering applying for disability. I am going to a hospital in july to see if they can help me (the best in Iowa ... where I live) and I am PRAYING they can cure me. The strange thing is, when this happened in 2005, I was fine one day, then the next, I was sick with diarreah. That is my main symptom. I am on meds to control it, but it dosen't allways work and I have flareups all the time. If anyone else is experiencing this bloating, and knows what to do, please advice me!!!

2 excellent suggestion are; fibre supplements or increase your daily fibre intake, fibre aids with both C and D, it helps keep you regular...also a good probiotic daily along with the fibre daily as well...much of what causes bloating and gas is bad bacterial over-growth which is why both fibre (foods or supplements or even both) and probiotics aid with...fibre helps sweep the bowels clean of bad bacteria and probiotics are good bacteria that are needed to maintain a healthy gut flora, resulting in getting rid of bloating and excess gas.

:)My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it! LOL :)

Hey Trish I am in same boat. First IBS flareup 25 years ago. I use to swell up and down, now I am a 50 year old 9 month pregnant lady. I wish you luck, if they actually reduce your swelling PLEASE let us know. Been to the best clinic in this area and they said"your body does this and there is nothing we can do to stop bloating and pain" Of course I didnt believe them. That was 2 years ago and I still have no relief. When my D and pain get so bad I cannot work my family Dr. puts me on Fmla. Of course my job and co workers hate this but I am just trying to function. Ready to start a national fundraiser to promate awareness and money to find a reason and cure for this thing. I guess the first step is to start a group locally. Going to start working on that next week. I am TIRED of feeling guilty for having IBS.

Thankyou for your advice. What is a probiotic? And where can I get one? I can't afford to buy any fiber stuff .. so do you know of good fiber to eat that won't make my D act up? I will try it. I have fiber laxatives that my GI doc gave me but I am afraid to use them .. resulting in more diarreah. Meaning, they are laxatives, which isn't good for me. Thanks again

I am sorry you have suffered for so long. I am only going on the 4th year of this. I think what you are doing with support for IBS is GREAT. There are no support groups in my area for this, and I live in a small town. Keep up the good work and I will let you know if I find anything that works.

Probiotics are friendly bacteria which sometime help repopulate the gut with the good flora and eliminate the bad, which often causes gas and bloating. Since you suffer primarily with D, they will likely be beneficial for you. You can find them in the refrigerated section of your local health food store. Another alternative might be calcium supplements. I have seen many members here recommend this as a way to slow down the D.

Foods that might help: bananas, whole wheat pastas, brown rice, white rice, yogurt, high fiber cereals. You will probably have to experiment to see what helps. IMO, it's always best to get your fiber from food rather than the OTC supplements. You will probably have to try many different options to find what helps without adding to the bloating and gas.

Does you bloating decrease after you've had bm's or passed gas? I find that to be the case for me although my problem is C, not D. If passing gas helps, you might want to try a heating pad, some gentle belly massage, and lying on your left side after meals. I have found all these things almost as helpful as the meds I've used over the years.

Thankyou for your advice. What is a probiotic? And where can I get one? I can't afford to buy any fiber stuff .. so do you know of good fiber to eat that won't make my D act up? I will try it. I have fiber laxatives that my GI doc gave me but I am afraid to use them .. resulting in more diarreah. Meaning, they are laxatives, which isn't good for me. Thanks again

Trish

probiotics are good bacteria that are needed to maintain a healthy gut flora, resulting in getting rid of bloating and excess gas....they come in caplet or powder form.

No, fibre laxatives will NOT give you D, they just have a mild laxative in them to ensure you won't get constipated...fibre aids with C or D so it's very necessary to get fibre (via food and/or supplements) daily...I take my fibre supplements daily as directed by my GI for the rest of my life and it's helped alot with my crohns and IBS, so don't be afraid...it may cause excess bloating/gas but this is normal and it's just your system adjusting to it which is why you have to take it everyday...it took 3 months before my excess bloating and gas went away and I no longer have either issue thanks to the fibre supplements so definitely give it a go, along with the probiotics...

An affordable probiotic that I use is one called primadophilus reuteri made by natures way, it's in the fridge at the store as it must be kept cold. In canada I pay 29.00 for 90 pills which lasts me 3 months (90 day) as only one/day is needed, not like many of the other expensive probiotics out there which you have to take up to 4 or more a day and a small bottle is well over 30.00.

This probiotic also has guaranteed intestinal release, aids with lactose intolerance, high cholesterol and for women, vaginal health...even if you don't have any of those issues it's still perfectly fine to take....everyday and indefinitely.

I stumbled on this site just now after eating my tea and feeling like i am about to give birth to triplets from the bloating!!! I have had ibi symptoms for about 7 years now but it is getting worse not better these days... I started with diarrhea when i was nervous or anxious and it has now progressed to severe bloatedness,wind,indijestion breathless etc... I am not really one to take herbal supplements and detest prescription drugs as they only treat the symptoms not the cause of the problem but what are the options?.... I suppose I am at a low where i feel so swollen and uncomfortable that I eat more as i feel i am fat enough already and look like i am pregnant! we try to eat all the right foods plenty of veg and fruit but tht still isn't helping, before I was usually bloated after I ate bread or any wheat and dairy now I am swollen when i just look at food!! people have said hypnotherapy works, I may consider it as that is a longer term option and hypnotherapy does work! I gave up smoking 9 months ago with it... but this IBS thing is driving me mad, I was pleased to see I am not the only one who suffers in this way as it is always harder to fa them if you think your alone.... not that I am eager to see others in the same situation but it is comforting I am not a freak of nature with my bloatedness! I would like to say I had the miracle cure to it to help even just one person but the truth is I am on a mission to find help/answers..... A friend of a friend has lost alot of weight and her swollen belly recently after discovering she had ibs she cut out foods and takes certain meds or herbal things to help her and she is doing fab and has never looked better! so fingers x there is hope for us others who are still in this nightmare.... If anyone has any advice then I am all ears!!

Talk to your Doctors about REglan if in the US or Motilium if in another country if you have a slow digestive system. Because I buy mine overseas I will not get into the where and hows but I have had almost a month now with all my symptoms gone after more years than I can remember with bloating, gas, constipation and belching. Talk to you Doctor about getting something that will increase the motility in your stomach so food doesn't sit there so long.

If one doesn't want to take pills or herbs I dont think there is a solution unless it is certain foods that are bothering you. In my case I had bloating with no food. I am also going to try Fennel capsules to see if that will take the place of medicine as I am sure they would be safer than any med.

Hey booboo, have you tried plain ol' simethicone? Over-the-counter stuff. Like $4 a bottle for the generic version. It's the active ingredient in Gas-X, etc. and pretty harmless - have you given that a whirl yet?Co-moderator - IBS Forum

Please always remember to consult your medical professional regarding your medical questions; this forum is intended to provide patient-to-patient support. Although some of us have healthcare backgrounds, we cannot diagnose or treat patients on the board.

I have never seen GAS-X in liquid around here or any Simethicone except the infant drops nor have I heard it mentioned before. Is this new? I have the GAS-X pills and Phazyme but except for the Mylanta's and Maalox that have simethicone in it this is a first with all the posts we have had about gas and bloating.

I have been bloated for several years now and I have gotten severe abdominal pains too... Years ago I was told that I had IBS but was never given anything or told what to do exept eat or drink plenty of fiber... Well that didn't help...

Just recently I was went to see a Gastroenterologist to schedule a colonoscopy and had blood drawn... A couple of days later the dr called me and told me that my blood work was positive for Celiac Disease... So now when I have my colonoscopy done they are going to do an EDG which is a scope down my throat to biopsy my small intestine and that will confirm if I truly have Celiac... This is an auto immune disease of the small intestine and this means i will have to be on a Gluetin Free Diet...

This explains my tiredness, my severe 7/8 month pregnancy (well that's what I look like) along with other symptoms...

Now I am not saying that is what you or anyone else has but if you have never been tested for it then maybe you should because things I have read and learned has been that other with Celiac and once they started the diet that helped with their bloating...

I was also experiencing extreme bloating and gas. I take the generic simethicone pills and they help a little. I buy them at Albertsons for 4.00 for 60 pills. I went onto a gluten free diet about 12 weeks ago and it has made a world of difference. My bloating only occurs when I cheat and then I pay for it for days. Makes the incidents of cheating fewer and fewer. I am 60 and looking pregnant at this age was horrible. Because of all the tummy issues I have, I only wear pants with elastic waists. When the bloating was bad, even the elastic waists would roll down... sheesh!

Gluten free diets are difficult for sure, but every night when I get into bed and I don't have to sit up to sleep and the nausea and bloating is minimal, I realize this is the hardest and best thing I have done for my health.Presently on: 600 mg. Remicade every 5 weeks

Venofer infusion every 5 weeks

B12 every 5 weeks

12 Asacol daily

Zofran as needed

Dealing with Colitis since 2003, Gastro-Paresis, Reflux, IBS and Gluten and Dairy Intolerance"Food is in my dreams and in my nightmares!"

Trish--if you decide to try a probiotic, make sure you get a good grade. Look for one that has 2-3 billion per capsule and keep the unused portion refrigerated. If the higher grade is too expensive you could try Phillips Colon Health-I've had good luck with those.

Trish1966 said...

pb4:

Thankyou for your advice. What is a probiotic? And where can I get one? I can't afford to buy any fiber stuff .. so do you know of good fiber to eat that won't make my D act up? I will try it. I have fiber laxatives that my GI doc gave me but I am afraid to use them .. resulting in more diarreah. Meaning, they are laxatives, which isn't good for me. Thanks again

So glad I found you all : ) I started getting bloating symptoms last summer. Scared me to death....and I looked like I was pregnant as well.. Felt like I was pregnant too....I was so uncomfortable and it lasted for hours and hours after I ate anything...didn't matter what I ate. I currently suffer and am undergoing treatment for Histoplasmosis...which is a rare infectious disease at the level I am at. Begins by infecting your lungs and then likes to hop around abit lol I was unsure when it started happening if it was something to do with the Histo or if it was something else. It started by having diarreaha more than I was having normal bowel movements...then went into the bloating along with the diarreaha. I have a touch of acid reflux to go right along with it lol I've been reading all the advice and am taking notes...I really don't want to have to suffer for years and years like so many of you have. I have so many other medical problems that if I could relieve this part it would help so much. Just wanted to say thanks and I am glad I am not a freak of nature lol you start thinking that your the only one and not normal and everyone is looking at you ya know. I will keep listening and keep trying...I wish all of you luck and hope you do the same for me too : )

I go for days, weeks, even months feeling perfect (well as perfect as I can be with r.a. n fibro) than out of the blue i swell up n like all u i look 9 months prego, feel like im in hard labor ready 2 give birth and its in my back too. This will last days, even weeks than dissapear just as fast. But in the mean time I'm waiting for work to fire me.

I can't find any triggers. Test have showed 2 cyst measuring 1 n 2 inches each n 2 pre cancerous palups, all since been removed but condition the same.

Hello all, I have had all these same problems for years. Had the colonoscopy, tried the fiber, magnesium, etc. etc. and nothing seemed to be a cure-all. Taking fiber made things worse, and then I found out from my doc that in a limited number of people, taking fiber actually makes things worse. Through trial and error, I have found my body tolerates fiber from veggies really well, but not beans or fiber supplements.

But the best advice I can give is that if you have this problem, you need to live a very disciplined lifestyle, otherwise it will never go away. Drink lots of water (limit soda and carbonated beverages), walk at least 20-30 minutes every day, try to stay away from cheese. Substitute silk or almond milk or lactose free milk for regular milk. Use whole wheat noodles and bread instead of white. I know we all want the quick and easy answers, and believe me, I like to drink soda and lay on the couch, but the truth is it takes work to get better. Not to say there aren't people who do these things and still have issues. I lapse all the time and get super bloated but then I know what I have to do to get back on track. The problem is when you're all bloated, the last thing you want to do is jog around the block, but you have to force yourself.

I also have the same problem but i have found a miracle treating the IBS. http://www.helpforibs.com/ I started reading her books and then following the diet to the letter and as long as i don't cheat i have reduced the bloating, pain and all the other symptoms by 90%. I still have an occasional flare up usually stress related but i can stop the flare ups quicker with this diet.... hope this helps everyone...Melissa

Bloating is often a symptom of food sensitivity or intolerance. Even healthy eaters can suffer from this problem. The best way to find out if you are suffering from food intolerance is to follow an elimination diet. This involves eating a selection of plain bland foods for a few days before gradually reintroducing your regular foods one at a time and noting any reaction to them. This will help you identify the worst culprits. Try The Flat Stomach Diet

I would go on a low salt diet for a while and see if that helps. My wife has IBS and had this issue. he was eating a lot of salt and a beer or two. She quite eating so much salt and quite the beer and got a lot better with the bloating.

Wine, not too big of a problem in moderation, but alcohol can contribute to bloating and can cause osmotic D.

Amitriptyline has been shown to help some IBSers with d, because of the link between IBS and serotonin. serotonin seems to play an important role in IBS symptoms.

Okay altered motlity can cause bacteria to enter the small bowel where it should not be really, at least in high counts, because its a pretty sterile environment. For the moment I am just looking at the altered motility reason for SIBO.

"A small number of patients with SIBO have chronic constipation rather than diarrhea. "

How does small intestinal bacterial overgrowth cause symptoms?

When bacteria digest food in the intestine, they produce gas. The gas can accumulate in the abdomen giving rise to abdominal bloating or distension. Distension can cause abdominal pain. The increased amounts of gas are passed as flatus (flatulence or farts). The bacteria also probably convert food into substances that are irritating or toxic to the cells of the inner lining of the small intestine and colon. These irritating substances produce diarrhea (by causing secretion of water into the intestine). There is some evidence that the production of one gas by the bacteriaâ€”methaneâ€”causes constipation.

http://www.medicinenet.com/small_intestina...rowth/page2.htm

Any Idea what those irritating substances are?

This means these are just in the wrong place and not specific or multiple pathogens?

A "classic" bacterial infection or a reaction to "all" the bacteria there themselves?

I wrote to Dr Drossman on this and here is the reply.

*Any Idea what those irritating substances are?*

sorry its in bold type that is how he worte it into the email so I would see it was his answers.

"IT IS AN OVERSTATEMENT TO SAY THEY ARE "IRRITATING" SUBSTANCES AT LEAST IN THE SENSE OF BEING SOME TYPE OF TOXIN. THEY ARE NATURAL BYPRODUCTS OF DEGRADATION OF FOOD SUBSTANCES BY BACTERIA WHICH DON'T NORMALLY OCCUR IN THE SMALL BOWEL. SO WITH INCREASED BACTERIA IN THE SMALL BOWEL, THE BACTERIA ARE ABLE TO DIGEST SUGARS FOR EXAMPLE PRODUCING H2 AND CO2 FROM THE SUGARS WHICH ARE GASEOUS BUT WHICH ALSO HAVE OSMOTIC PROPERTIES, I.E. INCREASED PARTICLES THAT CAUSE SECRETION OF FLUID INTO THE BOWEL THUS CAUSING DIARRHEA. IT'S THE SAME PRINCIPLE AS USING NON ABSORBABLE SUGARS LIKE LACTULOSE OR SORBITAL TO TREAT CONSIPATION BY INCREASING FLUID IN THE BOWEL. IT'S JUST THAT WITHOUT BACTERIA IN THE SMALL BOWEL, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AND THE FOOD SUBSTANCES GET ABSORBED. WITH INCREASED BACTERIA IT COMPETES FOR THE FOOD SUBSTANCES AND PRODUCES THE GAS AND DIARRHEA."

*This means these are just in the wrong place and not specific or multiple pathogens?*

CORRECT. HOWEVER, THERE IS GROWING INTEREST NOT IN THE AMOUNT OF BACTERIA BUT THE TYPE OF BACTERIA. CERTAIN BACTERIA CAN CAUSE SOME MILD INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWEL AND OTHERS PROTECT THE BOWEL FROM THAT POSSIBILITY. SO THERE IS "GOOD" AND "BAD" BACTERIA. POSSIBLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE TREATING PRESUMED SIBO (WHICH MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY BE HAPPENNING, BECAUSE THE TEST MAY BE INACCURATE) ANTIBIOTICS MAY HELP TO GET RID OF THE BAD BACTERIA AND THAT MAY BE WHY THEY ARE GETTING BETTER. THIS IS WHY SOME PEOPLE GET BETTER AFTER ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT. BUT IT CAN ALSO GO THE OTHER WAY, I.E., ANTIBIOTICS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO MAKE IBS WORSE AS WELL. THE OTHER IDEA IS TO USE PROBIOTICS WHICH CONTAIN "GOOD" BACTERIA (E.G., LACTOBACILLUS OR BIFIDOBACTERIA) WHICH REPLACE THE BAD BACTERIA, POSSIBLY REDUCE THE INFLAMMATION AND IMPROVE SYMPTOMS. SO THE ISSUE OF BACTERIA IN THE BOWEL IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN SIMPLE SIBO, BUT SIBO CAN BE A PART OF THE WHOLE PICTURE (THOUGH NOT THE WHOLE PICTURE FOR IBS).

In newer research its looking like SIBO doesn't "cause" IBS but that some people have both conditions.

You also have to keep in mind, food allergies and food intolerences don't cause IBS. Some people have more then one condition going on sometimes.

another issue maybe how much fruit you consume.

IBS Forum Moderator

I am not a doctor. All information I present is for educational purposes only and should not be subsituted for the advise of a qualified health care provider.

Please make sure you have your symptoms diagnosed by a medical practitioner or a doctor.